The CN Tower, Canada’s largest indoor aquarium, and the only full-sized castle in North America are just a few of Toronto’s major attractions. The city’s official motto may not be “go big or go home,” but it is a reasonable summation of the city’s top attractions.
CN Tower
The CN Tower, one of the contemporary world’s seven wonders and one of Canada’s most famous buildings, has come to characterize the Toronto skyline. You don’t want to miss this engineering marvel, which rises 553 meters above the ground, on any tour through the city. In addition to being a very impressive structure, you can ride the elevator up to the revolving 360 Restaurant for top-class cuisine. Are you feeling a little brave? Cross the glass floor, which is only 2.5 inches thick and 113 stories above the ground. Want an even greater rush? The Skypod viewpoint is 33 further stories up. Still, lacking in audacity? The not-for-the-faint-of-heart EdgeWalk experience requires you to put on a harness, go outside, and take a thrilling walk along the edge of the building with nothing but air between you and the ground. You can tell your pals that this heart-pounding pastime is the highest “hands-free stroll” in the world.
Royal Ontario Museum
Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, Canada
The Royal Ontario Museum is Canada’s largest museum of natural history and international cultures. The Crystal, the museum’s spectacular main entrance created by Michael Lee-Chin, is situated right in the heart of Toronto and immediately draws attention. The museum’s interior is home to a wide range of exhibits, including those on dinosaurs, ancient Egypt, and Canada’s First Nations. The six million or so items the museum has in its holdings are difficult to classify, but we’re confident you’ll be able to locate something you really like. You’ll come across elements of art, history, archeology, mineralogy, geology, paleontology, zoology, and just about any other -ology you can probably think of as you make your way from floor to floor past the 25-meter totem pole! Every time you go, there’s something new to learn at this century-old museum, which is a favorite of both locals and visitors.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Ripley’s Aquarium, Toronto, Canada
Do you appreciate the thought of being just a glass window’s width away from a shark? You may have that experience at the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, which also introduces you to the other 16,000 aquatic animals that are housed there. All of those creatures, including southern stingrays, 65-year-old huge lobsters, giant pacific octopuses, and nettle jellyfish, require 5.7 million liters of water to support them. Explore the marine life on the reef, stroll safely through a perilous lagoon, peer into an underwater viewing bubble, or watch a stingray dive show. You can always turn to the Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, which is open 365 days a year, for an exciting day, whether it’s an angelfish on Christmas Day or a stingray on your birthday.
Distillery Historic District
Distillery Historic District, Toronto, Canada
The Distillery Historic District is known for its restaurants, shops, arts, and entertainment. More than 40 historic buildings in this pedestrian-only village include everything a contemporary traveler may want. Victorian-era structures that have been refurbished to house contemporary fashion can also be found there. Behind aged red brick walls, gastronomic innovations may be found, and the old neighborhood is always bustling with events thanks to art galleries and performance spaces. The Gooderham & Worts whiskey distillery, which once occupied many of the buildings, gave the area its name.
The Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) at dusk
One of the biggest and best art museums in North America, the Art Gallery of Ontario, is home to an astounding 90,000 works of art. View the celebrated creations of the Group of Seven, a group of Canadian artists whose works make up the world’s largest collection of Canadian art. Then, take a trip around the world, from the African Art Gallery to the sizable collection of works from Europe, and go back in time, from the Renaissance and Baroque periods to the present. The AGO features everything from Rubens, Goya, Picasso, and Rembrandt to photography, sculpture, graphic art, installations, and more. The structure itself is a piece of art. The AGO underwent an expansion in 2008 that was conceived by Frank Gehry, Toronto-born, internationally recognized architect as well as the man behind the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao. There is no better location in the city to be if you love art.
Casa Loma
Unbelievably, Toronto is home to the only full-sized castle in North America. Casa Loma possesses each and every feature a castle could possibly have. There are turrets that provide stunning vistas of the city. There are more than 100 rooms and a sizable library to explore. There are hidden passageways to be found, such as a 245-meter tunnel leading to the stables and carriage house, the latter of which houses a collection of vintage automobiles from the early 20th century. Additionally, there are five acres of gardens with stunning flowers, sculptures, and fountains. Connect your headphones, turn on the digital audio tour, and explore a city castle while listening to it.
Hockey Hall of Fame
When in Rome would undoubtedly have something to do with ice hockey if it were applied to Canada. If you’ve never attended a game, you might want to stop by the Hockey Hall of Fame to learn more about Canada’s national sport. The 65,000 square feet of exhibit space is crammed to the gills with memorabilia, keepsakes, and relics right from the arena and serves as a fitting tribute to the sport that is frequently used to define Canada. View the sticks, gloves, pucks, and even nets from some of the greatest matches ever played while learning about the 388 individuals admitted into the Hall of Fame. Modern games will put your shooting and goaltending talents to the test. You can also try your hand at play-by-play commentary and take a seat in an NHL-style dressing room. And last but not least, hold the Stanley Cup in your hands.
Rouge National Urban Park
Rouge National Urban Park- The estuary of the Rouge River-Toronto-Ontario
Rouge National Park is Canada’s only urban National Park and Toronto’s own little piece of beauty. It is a region in the Greater Toronto Area that is ecologically protected and spans several communities, including Toronto, Markham, Pickering, and the Township of Uxbridge. Rouge National Park, with its 79.1 square kilometers of land, is a great place to spend a day outside the city to get back in touch with nature. At Rouge, there are countless activities to choose from, including biking, hiking, swimming, kayaking, camping, and much more.
The Toronto Islands
View from The Toronto Islands
From the city of Toronto, it takes just ten minutes to reach an entirely different setting. Get on a ferry and travel to the Toronto Islands, a place full of attractions where unwinding is the order of the day. You’ll need to hire a bike or rollerblade to tour the chain of islands, the three largest of which are Centre, Ward’s, and Algonquin, which are connected by a number of roads and bridges because there are no cars here. Four lovely beaches line the lake, while the primary attractions on land are summer villas from the 1920s and magnificent English gardens. You can test your intelligence in the maze on the islands, and your bravery in the scary lighthouse. The Toronto Islands provide a wonderful contrast to the hectic metropolis while yet allowing visitors to enjoy the view of the skyline with picnics, paddleboats, and horses.
St. Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market is one of the best places to go for foodies in Toronto, and it’s right in the heart of the Old Town neighborhood. The market has operated in one form or another since 1803, and even though the complex has changed, it still houses an actual farmer’s market, which a 2012 National Geographic article dubbed the best in the world. The market also features specialty foods and restaurants to suit every taste. Treat your senses as you view, smell, and taste fresh vegetables and cheese in the same location where merchants have sold them for more than 200 years. On a walking tour of the complex, which also includes spaces for business and social gatherings and innumerable local craftsmen selling mementos, apparel, jewelry, and other items, you can learn more about all of that history. From Tuesdays through Saturdays, have a look.
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